Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress…
Not that that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
Philippians 4:4-14;17
🎶 Woke up this morning, feeling kind of down- I called on my best friend, she could not be found- But I called on Jesus, my life He can hold- I’d rather have Jesus than silver and gold. 🎶 These are the lyrics to an old Kirk Franklin song from the 90’s that I love singing. God gave me a new tune as I woke yesterday morning, changing the lyrics just a tad.
🎤 I woke up this morning thankful and in my right mind- I called on Jesus, He is always around- I called on Jesus because my life He holds- I’d rather have Jesus than silver and gold! 🎤
I told myself I wasn’t going to end this week, the way it started. I told myself that some folks may act like they care but the bottom line is some folks marvel at the sign of your distress and you play right into the enemy’s hand when you seek man for approval or validation of your feelings. Honestly speaking I think that’s when I dwell too long on negative thoughts and it becomes harder and harder to be optimistic. I rather be optimistic than pessimistic or seen as a negative Nancy. Yes it’s okay to gripe about things but you have to look who you talking to and realize they have no power to change your situation. In other words, shut your face, and take it to God in prayer.
I am still in awe of how God spoke to me through the mouths of babes (Annabelle and Kami) on Wednesday night!
After being lectured by my sweet second mama on Wednesday night and then going to the house and being lectured by Rico (all in love), I knew God had cracked the whip and was telling me to stop being a “sour pus.” No one likes a sour pus and I tell you it surely does not sit well with me or look good on me. It’s like me wearing speedos knowing I’m shaped like a bowling ball right now (don’t worry because getting that sexy back is in full effect- like Cardi B says, “Okurr!” Sorry had a ratchet moment 😝! But anyway you need folks to “pull your card” sometimes owns sometimes you need that Mommy slap. I got Ralph Davis’ knockout slap through Rico and that momma’s bowl of bitter truth through Mrs. Rita! Oh how grateful I am!
I guess God truly knows how hard headed I can be so He knew on Wednesday that being fed and filled by the babes, Annabelle and Kami, might not fill my emotional appetite, He gave me dessert and a “tap on the butt” by Mrs. Rita and Rico that left me in perfect peace. Thank you Lord!
So Thursday morning on my way to work (the drive down the dirt road is the BEST part of my job! Minus the pot holes I’m TRULY going to miss the cows and baby calves and the beautiful pond when I move upward and onward) in the middle of the field all alone, I saw a mother cow and her baby!
I had passed two or three sets of precious baby cows, one with the most beautiful white face and dark coat on his body BUT it was something about this mother and calf that spoke to me. I sat there for a moment and even put the car in reverse never taking my eye off of the mother cow, and the mother cow staring contently back at me. Never did the baby calf lift her precious face from her mother’s bosom. Never did the mother cow move her body to cause the baby calf to loose her comfortable position- though her face looked eyes with me, her position never changed! And so what did that mean to me?
I’ve never been so eager to get in the office to crack open my Bible to see how I could dig into God’s word and decipher what God was trying to say. That’s why this devotional website God gave me the privilege to birth is a testimony in real time, real life instances where I am sharing my journey in Christ. InspirationAllAroundMe is a platform where God’s love is mentioned in EVERY BLOG! No it doesn’t share stories of flowers and candy and balloons and puppies because my life isn’t that. Sometimes I go through hell and back BUT I will always point those who visit this website back to God.
My daddy said since I was a little girl, “if you willing to do it, be willing to tell someone about it.” My daddy told me the ugly truths and that’s why I loved him so much. When he dealt with sickle cell pains I was honored to hear his cry out to the Lord! When my mom was scared or in distress or just full of praise, she shared her love of God and dependence of God with me. No matter how they suffered mentally, physically, financially, or what have you- they always thanked God and would go to His word to be filled.
And so on this beautiful Friday morning, I want to share what I discovered and how it translated to bring comfort to my mind and peace to my soul. It helped bring reassurance that I was forgetting that though circumstances have changed, God still remains the same. How many of you all need to know that this morning?
The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:19, And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God is telling us He will supply all of our needs. As humans we become impatient. This Scripture never said that you won’t go through a season of waiting (I’m still in the waiting room), He never said you wouldn’t be hungry or thirst, He never said you would be rich and never face any type of adversity or struggle, no the Bible never said that. And so when we have suffered a while, we start to grow weary. And when we are weary, we turn from God and try to do it our way in hopes of speeding up the process. What happens is we suffer the consequences for being disobedient and lacking faith. Transparent moment: I been getting whipped left and right because I needed to lay burdens down a long time ago and seek God at all times no matter how dark the road ahead looked. Lord please help me in my unbelief and help me when I grow weary or my actions show I question how long verses Lord give me the strength to endure!
It brought back a fond memory of my momma! My mom never complained, cursed God, or asked God why me when she had cancer. She never asked God to take it away. SHE NEVER COMPLAINED! Here my mommy had cancer 3 times and NEVER COMPLAINED but I get some aches and pains that humbled me and brought me to my knees with a purpose and I’m ready to tap out. I’m ready to rebel and try and take things into my own hands knowing I don’t have any power, knowing if I could change the outcome I wouldn’t have been in the situation in the first place, and forgetting that EVERYTHING I AM GOING THROUGH AND HAVE GONE THROUGH ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR GOD TO USE ME FOR HIS GLORY! You see I’ve had to die in Christ, I’ve had to carry His cross, and I’ve had to walk down that old dusty road of despair but can I tell you this morning GOD WAS ALWAYS FAITHFUL! GOD ALWAYS CARED! And MY GOD NEVER LEFT ME NOR FORSAKE ME!
When my daddy died, when my mommy died, when my husband left me, when my kids didn’t appreciate me, when my health failed me, when food became my prison, when I couldn’t walk like I used to, when I couldn’t sing like I used to, when I was too torn to praise God like He deserved, when I couldn’t do anything but cry out to the Lord and say LORD HELP ME PLEASE…JESUS, JESUS, JESUS…the Lord was always there. He was my Father when I became fatherless, He sent a loving mother to love me when I became motherless, He was my Husband and all those cold and lonely nights, He opened my kids eyes to see me as God saw me, He was the Doctor in the operating room, He allowed me to be broke and hungry until I began to feed on Him for nourishment. GOD DID IT. GOD DID IT. GOD DID IT!!!!!! And if He can do it for me, He will do it for you! Oh glory hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord for He is WORTHY OF ALL THE PRAISE! Yes my God will supply ALL our needs!
Okay time for me to reel it in and talk about the symbolism of the calf with what God was saying to me! In the Bible a baby calf has symbolized a few things:
- Idolatry
- Rebellion
- Sacrifice
- Provision
- Strength
- Fertility
- Innonence
- Joy
- Nourishment
- Purity
- The fatten calf symbolizes a special occasion, celebration, a feast, immense joy and reconciliation
My brothers and sisters I want you to know this morning that we serve a generous God and a God of great abundance. God can give us everything we stand in need of. I want y’all to know though this has been one of the MOST financially devastating years I have EVER had, I was struggling more spiritually than anything. My soul was in need of revival and you know how God revived my soul and is still reviving me as I seek Him for spiritual renewal, good health, and His provision? It has been looking past all the past due notices, the phone calls, the disconnection letters, all the pain, all the physical anguish, all the mental and emotional trauma I’ve had to endure to looking at the one who died on the cross for my sins. It was being reminded that like the mother calf who turned her head meaning troubles will come, her body stayed the same, meaning God still remains the same. He was the same God that was with me when I was rolling in doe and getting overtime out the woodwork, He is the same God that hears and sees every tear and cry I have while I’m here in this waiting room, and He will be the same God that when I get to the place where He is taking me I will remember all the days I wanted to quit and thank Him for His strength that helped me to endure! Oh how I bless your Holy name Father!
God is calling us to be in communion with Him, He is also calling us to fast, pray, and seek Him in all things, and in all ways give Him praise.
🎶 I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah
Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God 🎶
I know this was a lot to read and a lot to take in but I pray God is glorified and His word brings comfort to you wherever you are on your journey in Christ.
In conclusion, on this Beautiful Friday morning it is my prayer that we each will fill our minds with praise. It is my prayer that despite what we are facing, we will see the world as God sees it and we will thank Him for His wonderful blessings. My hope is that through today’s message you are at peace in your hearts knowing that even though you may have to go through some things, God never left you and His love never changed, and I hope that you know within your heart of hearts that God can and will provide above and beyond, exceedingly and abundantly, and that He blesses us daily and His blessings never fall short even when we fail Him. Friends let us be content like the baby calf resting in her mother’s bosom seeking Him when we are weak, allowing His word to provide nourishment, and His promise to restore, comfort, and bring peace.
May God richly bless each of you.
Amen. You had me playing Silver and Gold. I loved this song growing up and the older I get, the more meaningful this song is to me. My Grandma Hun never really had silver and gold. I know for a fact she had Jesus though. She stayed rooted in His Word daily and for hours at a time. It’s something that Timothy said that reminded me of what you said…You said that your Mom never complained not once even when she had cancer. And I can attest that she did….because I remember her being in the car and we go into city trends trying to find something for the men at the High Rise and I am in awe cause I’m like what is the world is wrong with Mrs. Davis, because if I were in her condition….mannnnnn let me tell you something, I would not be out looking for nooothing for nobody. I would be at home in the bed. But now I realize I said the wrong thing, not what is wrong with Mrs. Davis, but What is right with Mrs. Davis….I mean…self-less. She put herself before others. She served God to the very end. She let God use her and she stayed going to church and being about our Father’s business. Anyway, my brother Tim said….man life is hard, I see why Hun stayed in the Word and too did our Father’s business. What I didn’t know is that she wanted to come back to Columbia to be with her children. Now with speaking to Uncle Joe Alvin. I am glad she stayed and got the vacation that was needed from taking care of everyone else and now she got to rest until she went home to Glory. Now I was heartbroken because I could not do my plan that I wanted to do that I wouldn’t figure out until later that it was not in God’s Will for me to do. Moving on 19 years later, I feel like I still don’t have it figured out. I am up and down in my emotions and feelings. I am asking God why and to Help me. I know God is helping me right now. I just got to trust him and not in my timing. Sometimes I feel like falling out like a two year old because it seems as though I am losing….and I ask tell myself you need to do better, you can’t be lukewarm, you have to be on fire, you have to pray more, you have to talk more to God, you’ve got to do better and boy oh boy, aren’t we our worse critics, but 99 and 1/2 wont do. It’s like you are praying, you are trying to live and it feels like you are just existing and working to pay bills….well behind in the bills and so there’s extra pressure. It’s like you can’t breath well atleast it’s that way for me sometimes. Then you look to your left and right, you see crack head B looks like they are doing better and going on vacations while they are stealing and robbing Ms. Jane. It’s like you are tired but still running for Jesus. We are working two jobs sometimes three and still are not meeting ends meet. I don’t understand it and am not going to try. Its that verse that says lean not to your own understanding. And that’s what I am going to do….Lord you are the potter and I am the clay. Mold me and make me. Have thine own way Lord. Have thine own way. Mold me and make me. Have thine own way. And that’s all we can do Whitnee is continue to praise God and wait in the waiting room until it’s our turn for God to manifest His Will onto us. For your dream to come to past…for my dream to come to past. This part that you posted, “That’s why this devotional website God gave me the privilege to birth is a testimony in real time, real life instances where I am sharing my journey in Christ. InspirationAllAroundMe is a platform where God’s love is mentioned in EVERY BLOG! No it doesn’t share stories of flowers and candy and balloons and puppies because my life isn’t that. Sometimes I go through hell and back BUT I will always point those who visit this website back to God.” I loved that you pointed that out. This is what I do in the waiting room as well to help me get through. I know that this part right here is helping someone else in the future because they are going to see that they aren’t the first ones to go through the trails of life and neither are we but God will give us some “inspiration” to encourage the next person and so forth. You know thinking, I see how many people that you encourage outside of this but people can come and take, take, and take with their hands out, but can’t even encourage you back on the great platform. That’s ok, God will get the glory anyhow. And remember God pays back with interest. So each morning as I rise, after I thank God, now I have a peace that comes over me, because I know God got me and He will never leave me. Amen.
No He will never leave you nor forsake you. Greater is He that is in the Lord!
This is only a TEST for the testimony and God is still in the blessing business so bless Him and praise Him in advance for what He is going to do.
So often we want the situation to work out for the better right now but God is molding us as we go through struggles, pain, disappointment, sadness, etc. It is all necessary and our tears will not be in vain.
I am so amazed that though you want to throw a temper tantrum like a two year old, like your Grandma Hun, you stay in the Word and help others.
May He continue to give you strength to endure while in the waiting room.
This one my God, powerful writing. 2026 things will work in your favor, God is showing you just who you are meant to be, keep going
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